'Super' schools plan given green light

St David's will be one of two 'super' schools created

A £12m plan to reorganise secondary school education in Wrexham has been given the go-ahead despite some local objections.

Two 'super' schools will now be created, after the Welsh Assembly ratified the local council's scheme.

Affected schools

Bryn Offa

St David's

Groves High School

Under the plan, the Groves High School will shut down, and pupils will merge with St David's and Bryn Offa - both of which will be extensively modernised.

While the refurbishment work is being carried out on the two 'super' schools, the Groves site will be used until 2005 to minimise the disruption caused to pupils.

But Martin Jones, Chairman of St David's Parents Group said the short-term move was still a cause for concern.

"We've always been opposed to relocating children from St David's to the Groves site, which would not be in the best educational interests of the children.

"However, the council had to make a difficult decision.

"I hope that, in light of the announcement, the concerns and objections of all concerned parents will be considered," he said.

Ysgol Bryn Offa will have a facelift

The scheme has been dogged by criticism from many parents of pupils who attend the affected schools.

In April this year, a petition with more than 1,000 signatures was handed in to education officials in protest over the plans.

But Wrexham MP Ian Lucas said it was now time for local people to work together on the project.

"It is very important that the local authority involves staff, parents and pupils in talks," he said.

Wrexham council has said it will keep involved parties fully informed of any developments.

Temporary governing bodies have already been appointed to deal with staff appointments and day-to-day issues including the hiring of headteachers.

Expensive project

The two multi-million pound new schools will place a larger emphasis on vocational courses.

The Groves will close

Yale College has agreed to link up with the secondary schools to offer extra subjects.

The council had planned to form a partnership with the sixth form college.

However, bosses at Yale thwarted the original funding plans after deciding they could not afford to buy Groves High School.

Wrexham council will now fund the project entirely by selling off local authority property.

Renovation work on the new schools is expected to begin shortly.